BOONE LOCAL PROBATE FORM A STATE OF INDIANA COUNTY OF BOONE ) ) SS: ) IN THE BOONE SUPERIOR COURT I CAUSE NO. 06D01-______-____-______ IN RE UN/SUPERVISED ) ESTATE OF: ) ___________________________________ ) INSTRUCTIONS TO PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE You have been appointed PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE of the Estate of a deceased person. It is important that you understand the significance of the appointment and your responsibilities. Listed below are some of your duties but not necessarily all of them. These duties are not listed in any order of priority. Ask the attorney for the Estate to fully explain to you each of the items below and to tell you about any other duties you have in your particular circumstances. Although the attorney will probably file all papers with the Court, the ultimate responsibility to see that reports and returns are accurately prepared and filed rests with you. As PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE, you are required to: 1. Locate all property owned individually or otherwise by the decedent at the date of death; and ascertain the value of such assets as of date of death. Secure all property in safekeeping and maintain adequate insurance coverage; keep records of the assets. If applicable, obtain an appraisal of the property. 2. Inventory any safety deposit box. 3. Keep a separate checking account or other type of transaction account for the Estate and keep a record of all receipts and disbursements. Never commingle Estate funds with any other funds or use them for other than Estate purposes. Accounts and securities which are registered to the Estate should be in your name "as Personal Representative for the Estate of (name of Decedent)." Retain all paid bills and canceled checks or other evidence of disbursement or distribution of any funds or assets of the Estate for the Final Report to the Court. 4. Within two (2) months after you qualify and receive Letters of Personal Representative, you must prepare an Inventory of all property found belonging to the decedent on the date of death and giving values as of the date of death. If administration is supervised it must be filed. If unsupervised, the inventory must be available to heirs and beneficiaries. 5. You may need to obtain Consent to Transfer forms from the County Assessor for accounts and securities in order to transfer such assets. 6. Collect any proceeds of life insurance on the life of the decedent which is payable to the Estate. Obtain Form 712 from the insurance company, if needed for taxes. 7 Have mail forwarded; complete change of address forms at the Post Office. 8. Inspect all documents and personal papers of the decedent and retain anything pertinent to tax reporting, location and value of assets, debts or obligations of or to the decedent, or any other items of significance to administering the final affairs of decedent. 9. Pay all legal debts and funeral bills; however, pay only priority claims timely filed if there is any question of solvency of the Estate. Do not pay bills which are doubtful but refer them for Court determination. Do not make any distribution to any heir or beneficiary until at least three (3) months after the date of first publication of notice, unless an earlier distribution is allowed by Order of the Court. 10. Prepare and file returns and pay taxes due (or claim any refund) for both State and Federal income taxes for the tax year in which the decedent dies and any prior years, if applicable. 11. Prepare and file the prescribed Schedule for Indiana Inheritance Tax within nine (9) months after date of death. Any tax due must be paid within one (1) year after date of death. Do the same for the Federal Estate Tax, if required, within nine (9) months after date of death. 12. Unless subject to an exception, obtain a federal tax identification number for the Estate. Choose a tax year for the Estate; file Estate income tax returns and pay any tax due for both State and Federal income tax. 13. Make distribution and obtain receipts for distribution. 14. File a Final Account, if supervised administration, or a Closing Statement if unsupervised administration, with receipts for distribution if already made; send a copy thereof to all distributes of the Estate and to all creditors or other claimants whose claims are neither paid nor barred; furnish a full account in writing of the administration to the distributes. File an Affidavit in lieu of vouchers with the Court. 15. File a Supplemental Report with the Court, if ordered to do so, with receipts for the final distribution. 16. Pay court costs and expenses of administration when due. 17. Make payments and distributions to the right persons. You are responsible for incorrect payments or distribution. ____________________________________ Judge, Boone Superior Court I I acknowledge receipt of a copy of the above instructions and will read and follow instructions carefully. Dated this ______ Day of ___________, 20_____. Cause No.: 06D01-_______-_____-__________ Estate of:__________________________ Printed: _________________________________ By: __________________________________ Personal Representative ______________________________ Personal Representative